תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

heel." This was an early intimation of a | his people from their sins." A special Saviour, who should defeat the malice of messenger was raised up to prepare the Satan, the grand adversary, and prevent the total ruin of mankind.

This was

way before him, to bid Satan defiance, and
to call upon men to "repent, because the
kingdom of God was at hand."
John, who soon after had the honor to in-
troduce Christ by baptism into the field
of battle, and to point him out to the men
of that age as "the Lamb of God which
taketh away the sin of the world."

To prefigure the manner in which he was to achieve this great deliverance, it deserves our notice, that expiatory sacrifices were very early appointed. Thus we read, that "Abel offered unto the Lord the firstlings of his flock;" and when we consider that it was not till after And now let us review his personal the deluge that the use of animal food conduct, and trace him through the course was permitted to man, we can hardly of his public ministry, where we shall bedoubt, that the "coats of skins," which hold the most striking proofs of the God is said to have made for Adam and apostle's assertion, that for this purpose Eve, must have been the skins of animals the Son of God was manifested, that he offered in sacrifice by his own direction might destroy the works of the Devil. No and appointment. These were significant sooner is he baptized, and consecrated to emblems, or types, of that great atone- his office by the visible descent of the ment which Christ was to make in due Holy Ghost, than he suffers himself to be time by the sacrifice of himself; in allu- "led by the Spirit into the wilderness," sion to which, he is styled, in the New and continued there for the space of forty Testament writings, a Lamb, "the Lamb days "tempted of the devil." The cir of God,"-" the Lamb slain from the cumstances of this combat, and the happy foundation of the world." issue of it, are recorded by three evangelists, and are so generally known, that I need not stay to repeat them. This was the first signal defeat of the adversary; in the wilderness was the serpent's head broken as tempter, which on Calvary was afterwards bruised as tormentor.

But lest these typical representations of the promised seed should prove too thick and obscure a vail, it pleased God gradually to unfold the purposes of his grace, by raising up prophets at different periods of time; who, though they separately bare witness to this illustrious person, yet they perfectly agreed in the report they gave of him; representing him as an irresistible conqueror, "who should divide the spoil with the strong," as "the King whom God had set upon his holy hill of Zion," as "the Lord strong in battle," and "mighty to save; who should "proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;-who should finish transgression, and make an end of sins," or offerings for sin, "and make reconciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting right

cousness."

[ocr errors]

Having thus vanquished the devil in single fight, our Lord forthwith invites men to fight under his banner. He chooseth twelve apostles, whom he appoints to be the stated attendants upon his person, and the principal leaders of the army under him. With these he joins seventy of a subordinate rank, to whom he gives orders to attack the enemy, and to exercise the power of his word and spirit against him. In obedience to his command, and relying upon his aid, they resolutely go forth two by two, into every city and place whither he himself was to come; and after a rapid and most successful progress, like young soldiers flushed with their first prosperous adventure, they return again with joy, saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."

Accordingly, when the fulness of time was come, the Son of God made his entrance into the world in the declared character of Saviour and Redeemer. A heavenly herald was employed to announce his appearance, and to appoint Upon this the hotter part of the war him a name expressive of his office begins. The old serpent puts forth all "Thou shalt call his name JESUS," said his strength and cunning, raiseth up enethe angel to Joseph; "for he shall save | mies from every quarter, works upon the

pride, envy, and prejudices of the Jewish | him.” To him we are indebted for the rulers and teachers, and by their agency fullest and most satisfying information carries on a most furious persecution concerning the nature and perfections of against him. Yet still this great Captain of Salvation maintains his ground, and, amidst all the opposition that is made to him, lays the foundation of a kingdom, against which the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail; till at length, by seeming to yield, he gives the enemy the mortal blow, pursues him into his own dominions; and, by a mysterious wisdom, "through death, he conquers him that had the power of death, that is the devil:" And having thus obtained a complete victory, he riseth from the grave in triumph, ascendeth up on high, leading captivity captive; where, seated on the right hand of the Father, he shall continue in the exercise of government as Mediator till all his enemies be made his footstool.

Thus, you see, that the doctrine of my text doth not lean upon a single testimony, but is supported by many clear and express declarations of holy writ, and beautifully illustrated by the whole of our Saviour's conduct during the time of his abode on this earth. Let us then proceed,

God Most High; the measures of his government, his relation to us, and the worship that is due to him; and that neither guilt uor distance might discourage our approach to the throne of his holiness, Christ hath opened to us, in his own blood, a precious fountain of sovereign virtue, in which the chief of sinners may wash and be made clean; and by revealing to us the mysterious union of the divine and human natures, in his own person as Mediator, he hath, as it were, thrown a bridge over that boundless infinite ocean, which separates the creature from the invisible Godhead: so that through the man Christ Jesus, who is also God's beloved Son, we may now address the Father of our spirits, without that dread of a repulse, and fear of offending him, which otherwise must have overwhelmed our minds. He hath given us a law which is holy, just, and good, utterly subversive of the kingdom of Satan, and contrary to all his works; "teaching us, that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world." law he hath enforced with the most persuasive arguments. Every motive to obedience that can either encourage our hopes, or alarm our fears, is set before us in the strongest and most affecting light. 1st. He hath given us the most certain Heaven is unfolded to our view, and deand enlarged discoveries of every thing struction hath no covering: And that no that is necessary to be known, believed, incitement may be wanting to invigorate or done by us, in order to our present our opposition to the devil and his works, improvement and holiness, and the per- this great Captain of Salvation solemnly fection of our happiness in a future state. enlists us into his army by baptism; and The devil is styled "the god of this hath appointed the other sacrament, not world, who blindeth the minds of those merely to represent his atoning sacrifice, that believe not," and by keeping the light and to remind us of the price with which from them, leads them captive at his plea- we were redeemed, but likewise to afford sure. And Christ delivers them from us an opportunity of recognizing his title this thraldom, "by opening their eyes, to our grateful homage and most loyal suband turning them from darkness to light;"jection; and to be a means of imparting dispelling those clouds of ignorance, er- to our souls those supplies of grace, which ror, and prejudice, whereby Satan maintains his usurpations over the hearts of

II. In the second place, To consider more particularly some of the principal means by which the Son of God hath hitherto conducted his salutary undertaking, and shall finally destroy the works of the devil.

men.

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared

This

will enable us to quit ourselves like men, while we fight under his banner against the powers of darkness, till the God of peace shall in due time bruise Satan under our feet. Thus doth the Son of God destroy the works of the devil, by the doctrines,

and laws, and ordinances he hath taught | chariot, on which, having spoiled prinus. To which I add,

2dly. The bright and glorious example

of his life.

cipalities and powers, he made a show of them openly. I shall therefore discourse at greater length upon this head, and endeavor to illustrate the efficacy of Christ's death, in counteracting and defeating the malice of Satan: 1st. As it advances the glory of God which he sought to impair; and, 2d. As it purchaseth and secures the salvation of men, in spite of all his attempts to ruin them. These subjects, which are no less delightful than interesting, will serve to unfold the meaning of that heavenly anthem with which angels celebrated the birth of our Lord: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.

[ocr errors]

1. First, then, let us view the death of Christ as a means of advancing the glory of God, or, to speak with greater propriety, of displaying it more fully to his intelligent creatures.

It was the just reproach of the Jewish teachers, that "they bound heavy burdens, and laid them upon other men's shoulders, but they themselves would not touch them with one of their fingers." Whereas the example of our Lord was of equal perfection with his laws. He lived as he taught; and the whole of his conduct, from his birth to his death, was one continued lecture of the purest devotion, the sublimest morals, and the most extensive usefulness. But this opens a field too extensive to be entered upon. It must suffice at present to observe, that the principal virtues which the peculiar character and circumstances of our Lord gave him an opportunity to practise, were obviously adapted to counteract the devil's most favorite vices. How odious, Satan, no doubt, triumphed in his vichow disgraceful, do human pride and vain-tory over the heads of our race. He had glory appear, when set in opposition to seen with envy that fountain of beneficence the lowliness of Christ, who, "though flowing out towards them, which he knew he was in the form of God, and thought was eternally shut against himself; and it not robbery to be equal with God, yet beheld, with vexation and rage, the commade himself of no reputation, and took placency and delight of the Creator in his upon him the form of a servant?' With new made world. But now that the fatal what persuasive eloquence doth the con- trespass was committed, he would fondly tempt he poured upon the riches, and conclude, that this blessed harmony be honors, and pleasures of this world, re- tween heaven and earth was for ever at an prove and condemn the covetousness, the end. Man, would he think, is become ambition, and sensuality of men? His no less guilty than I am. That tremencondescension to the mean, and his sym-dous justice, the severity of which I feel, pathy with the miserable; his meekness stands as much in the way of this creain receiving and forgiving injuries; and his patience in enduring the most grievous sufferings, do all serve to expose the deformity of those opposite distempers which give Satan so much room in the hearts of most men. After this manner doth the perfect example of the Son of God in our nature contribute to the subversion of the kingdom of darkness. But,

[ocr errors]

ture's happiness as of mine. God must rear up another world before he can make any further display of his goodness, for this world is effectually put beyond the reach of it. Thus we may suppose him glorying in his conquest, and his fancied disappointment of the divine purpose.

But, behold! by the death of Christ, the shameful disappointment recoiling 3dly. It was by his obedience unto upon himself. He had before seen gooddeath that our Lord did most eminently ness and justice displayed alternately, each destroy the works of the devil; as we learn acting in the most perfect manner upon from the passage to which I formerly their proper objects; but now he sees alluded, (Heb. ii. 14.) "Through death them ministering to each other's glory, he destroyed him that had the power of and mutually conspiring to take advantage death, that is the devil." Accordingly, of his malice, that both might shine forth in the epistle to the Colossians, the cross with more dazzling splendor. He sees of Christ is compared to a triumphal mercy to the guilty (an exercise of good

ness which till then he thought impossible) of the world, is now broken down; and rejoicing against judgment, and judgment at the divine goodness, which formerly ran the same time triumphing in a satisfaction in a narrow channel, now dilates itself, of infinitely greater worth than the whole and embraceth a whole world, men of all world of angels and men. He sees love kindreds, nations, and languages. Thus bringing the sacrifice to satisfy justice; Satan, by overdoing, undoes his interest; and justice, having nothing more to demand, by grasping at the Jews, he loseth his giving place to love; nay, becoming bound Heathen subjects: for as Paul writes to to serve the purposes of love in the salva- the Ephesians, (chap. ii. 13, 14.) “But tion of those whom it formerly sought to now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes destroy. This is that mysterious object were far off," (being aliens from the comwhich angels contemplate with increasing monwealth of Israel, and strangers from wonder, and which devils must look at the covenants of promise)" are made nigh with shame and confusion. The Son of by the blood of Christ. For he is our God suffers, that the sinner may escape; peace, who hath made both one, and hath and thus mercy and truth, righteousness broken down the middle wall of partition and peace, which are never to meet upon between us.' "Now therefore," as it those apostate spirits, meet and embrace follows, (verse 19.) "ye are no more upon the cross of Christ; and God ap- strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citipears infinitely just, as well as infinitely zens with the saints, and of the household gracious, when he justifies those who be- of God." Christ, after his resurrection lieve in Jesus. sent forth his apostles to preach the gospel to every creature. In obedience to his command, they flew abroad like lightning, invaded the kingdom of darkness on all quarters, and made an amazing progress in their own day. And we look by faith for still more glorious times, when the dominion of Satan shall be utterly subverted, and all the nations of the earth shall be brought to the knowledge of the only true God, and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, whom to know is life eternal. Thus doth the death of Christ destroy the works of the devil, inasmuch as it displays the glory of all the divine perfections, and enlarges the kingdom of God among men, by the very means which Satan employed to sully the one and to diminish the other.

In short, all the attempts of Satan to impair or darken the glory of God, serve only to furnish out a theatre for the more illustrious display of it. He pulls down his kingdom with his own hands, and builds up that which he meant to overturn.

It is impossible to know with certainty what views he had of the Messiah; but it is plain, that he thought his death would bring great advantage to himself. He very probably hoped, that by this horrid deed, God would be provoked finally to abandon the human kind. The Jews were the only society of true worshippers upon earth, the people whom God had chosen for his peculiar inheritance; and if their charter could be broken, by their ungrateful rejection, and barbarous murder, of their long-promised King, then of 2. The death of Christ is no less effeccourse they would fall to his share; and tual to purchase and secure the salvation so the whole world would become his own, of men, in spite of all Satan's attempts to and God have no tribute of praise from ruin them. This partly appears from men. But, O the depth of the riches, what hath been already suggested. His both of the wisdom and knowledge of blood is the price which redeems the soul; God! Here again Satan is caught in his it expiates the guilt of sin, and gives full own snare; and by seeking to enlarge his satisfaction to divine justice: so that now kingdom, saps the foundation of it. Christ the grand obstacle is removed, which obbeing lifted upon the cross draws all men structed the sinner's access to God, and unto him. The covenant of peculiarity excluded him from any share in the fruits doth indeed cease; but then it is succeed- of his beneficence. But this is not all: ed by a better and more extensive one. The death of Christ doth likewise afford The wall of partition that inclosed the the most persuasive and effectual motives Jews. and separated them from the rest to that holiness, " without which no man

by which they are encouraged to attempt, nay, (as the apostle Paul assures us from his own experience) by which they are actually enabled to do all things. Which leads me to mention a

shall see God;" and thus directly destroys | holy obedience; and hath moreover merthe works of the devil. Here we behold ited for them that supernatural assistance, the frightful aspect of sin. Hell itself doth not furnish such an awful representation, either of its intrinsic malignity, or its heinous demerit. How deep, how black, must that stain have been, which nothing could wash away but the blood of Fourth and principal means, by which Christ? How deadly the disease which the Son of God destroys the works of the no other medicine could cure? How tre- devil; namely, the divine efficacy of the mendous that justice, which nothing less Holy Spirit, regenerating the souls of could satisfy than the death of him who men, filling them with light, and love, created the worlds? In vain doth Satan and strength; casting down those proud tempt us to presume, if we duly attend imaginations which exalt themselves to this. Here sin is made to appear ex- against God, and bringing every thought ceeding sinful; and Christ from the cross into captivity to the obedience of Christ. proclaims God's infinite abhorrence of that The Holy Spirit is Christ's vicegerent accursed thing, and his resolution to pun- upon earth, sent forth by him to supply ish it, with a louder and more alarming his place, and to erect his throne in the voice than even the howlings of the damn-hearts of men upon the ruins of Satan's ed themselves can do. And then what kingdom. This he doth, by opening their an effectual remedy have we here against understandings to understand the Scripdespair? This is another engine which tures, and leading them to the knowledge the enemy of our souls seldom fails to of all necessary truths, by convincing employ. When he cannot hold us bound them of their sin and misery, enlightening with the cords of presumption, he will their minds in the knowledge of Christ, next attempt to plunge us into the gulf of and renewing their wills; whereby he not despair, and will be ready to say to us, only persuades, but effectually enables (as Joshua said to the Jews with a very them to embrace Christ as he is offered; different aim,) "Ye cannot serve the by shedding abroad the love of God in Lord, for he is a holy God." Your sins their hearts, furnishing them with strength are so multiplied, and your bad habits so to resist temptation, to overcome strong, that it is a vain thing to think of world, to mortify the deeds of the body, amending now. But the cross of Christ and to crucify the flesh with the affections suggests to the believer a sufficient answer and lusts. These are some of the effects to this objection. True it is, can he say, which the Scriptures attribute to the that my sins have been many and great; Spirit of Christ. By these the strong but here is blood that "cleanseth from man armed is driven out of his palace; all sin" My corrupt passions are in- he is stripped of his armor, and his goods deed strong; but then my Redeemer "is are spoiled. Thus the soul is rescued a mighty to save. He would not purchase from the bondage of Satan, and the sinner an inheritance for me which I could not is made willing by a day of power to yield be rendered capable of possessing. He himself unto God, and to walk in newness who died to prepare a heaven for his people, is certainly able to prepare his people for heaven. He knows my weakness, and yet calls upon me to follow him; and therefore I cannot, I dare not, despair of his help. I will go forward in his name, and he will make his grace sufficient for me. Thus doth the death of Christ destroy the works of the devil, inasmuch as it furnisheth his people with the strongest argument against sin, and the most persuasive motives to faith and

[ocr errors]

of life.

the

5thly. The Son of God will finally destroy the works of the devil, when he shall come the second time to judge the world in righteousness. Then shall the kingdom of darkness be plucked up by the roots; then shall the ransomed of the Lord be confirmed in a state of unchangeable purity and happiness. Satan shall no more vex and seduce them; but he, with all the workers of iniquity, shall be thrust down into those everlasting burnings, which the

« הקודםהמשך »